Shoe-fitting appliance.



UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

CHRISTIAN W. SOHELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAMC. TAYLOR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SHOE-FITTING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed March 16, 1906. Serial No. 306,851.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN W. SoHELL, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShoe-Fitting Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe-fitting appliances, and hasfor its object the construction of a device of this character, embracingfeatures of convenience and utility, not present in any prior device,with which I am acquainted.

The invention preferably is embodied in a fitting and measuringappliance, wherein the wearers foot is adapted to be placed and measuredthe proper size being indicated by means of a traveling pointer,conveniently positioned for the salesman to inspect. This device,moreover, preferably is attached to and forms a part of a fitting-stool,whereon the salesman may sit to assist the customer in putting on andremoving the shoe, and at the same time positioning the salesman closeto the scale and indicator, whereby he may more conveniently gather by aglance, the required size.

The embodiment of my invention may vary somewhat from the models hereindepicted, but I may say that the measuring device is adapted to bemanufactured separately in the form of a bracket for mounting uponordinary stools or benches, or the same may be combined, as indicated,with a low fittingstool or chair, which will bring the salesman into themost convenient position, both to assist the customer and measure thesize of his foot.

The device may well befashionedfrom wood or metal; the latter beingpreferable as a rule, for the principal parts of my appliance, in orderto obtain additional strength and durability and largely eliminate theeifects of wear.

With the foregoing preliminary suggestions, I may now discuss someembodiments of my invention, in connection with the accompanying sheetof drawings, illustrating several models or devices constructed inaccordance with my improvements, wherein:

Figure I. is a perspective view of a fittingstool andmeasuring-appliance, shaped principally from Wood and containing my saidimprovements. Fig. II. is a plan view of said fitting-appliance, drawnupon an enlarged scale. Fig. III. is a similar View of one of saidappliances, adapted to be secured or fastened to an appropriate bracketor upon a bench the device being formed of metal. Fig. IV. is a sideview thereof and, Fig. V. is another perspective view, showing anadditional type of fitting-stool and equipped with a metalmeasuring-appliance.

Throughout each of the several figures, I have chosen to designatesimilar parts by the same character of reference, in order to avoidpossible confusion.

Certain undesirable features, which obtain in all prior devices of thisgeneral character, with which I am acquainted, have been sought to beeliminated in the constructions herein set forth. Thus, with theordinary foot-measure or rule, the foot and rule must be supported byone hand of the user, while the adjustable portion must be actuated bythe other hand, which is employed at the same time in endeavoringpartially to support the device and the measured foot, and inconsequence, measurements taken in this Way are not at all uniform oraccurate.

With more elaborate foot-measuring instruments, of the type equippedwith fixed scales, the device, as before, must be held to support themeasured foot, while the readings from the scales are only approximate,since such readings must be taken by comparison with a stationary scaleand are uncertain or rendered inaccurate by the stocking upon themeasured foot. My thought, accordingly, has been to produce a device,wherein the foot of the user may be supported easily in a naturalposition, with which appliance, is associated a positive measuringscaleor gage, indicating directly the exact size of the measured foot. l/Vithsaid appliance, there also is preferably associated a stool, correctlypositioned for the use of the salesman, whereby he may be mostconveniently seated before the customer to assist in placing the footproperly within the support, adjust the measuring-appliance, note thereading upon the scale and thereafter fit the desired shoe to themeasured foot. These requirements have been met in the embodiments of myinvention, which I shall now describe.

Referring first to Fig. I., it is seen that a low stool a, having aconvenient saddleshaped seat I), is provided at its narrow forward endwith a fifth leg 0, carrying the measuring-appliance. This comprises anangular foot-form or support d, rearwardly provided with an upwardlyextending heelpiece 6, adapted to engage the heel of the measured foot.This foot-form or support d is shaped from two superposed pieces ofwood, which are interiorly-channeled or grooved to receive themeasuring-stick f, and the upper one is recessed to accommodate the stopor upright g, normally folded back upon said stick, flush with thefoot-form, where it is entirely out of the way. At the rear of thismeasuring-stick, which is slidably mounted in its channel, is providedthe interiorly-positioned, angular arm 7L, carrying the pointer orindicator i, which is free to travel over the scale 7c, adapted suitablyto designate the shoesizes.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that thesalesman, after seating himself upon the stool, may unlace and removethe shoe from the foot to be measured and will place the foot upon thefoot-form in engagement with the supporting heel-piece in a perfectlynatural position. The upright g is then raised from its folded positionto that indicated in Fig. IV, and is pressed down into engagement withthe foot to be measured, whereupon the correct size will at once beindicated by glancing at the position of the pointer upon the scale. Theupright is then folded and returned to its recess and the appliance maythen be employed asa support in fitting a new shoe of the correct sizeupon the measured foot. It may be said that in practice, widths arerarely meas ured in fitting shoes, and in consequence, the time, both ofthe salesman and the customer, is saved in employing my improved device,since making the desired measurement of length requires but a moment toaccomplish.

In Fig. III. and IV. are shown two views of a measuring-appliance, madeof metal and equipped with a supporting-bracket Z, which device isadapted to be secured upon a suitable part of existing benches orstools. The construction is slightly more compact, than where the partsare made from wood, but the features are practically identical, with again in durability and wear.

Fig. V. illustrates another form of shoe fitting appliance, comprising astool m, formed of live twisted-wire legs, carrying the stool-top andmetal foot-form (Z. In this type, the scale It and traveling pointer orindicator i are positioned at the upper portion of the foot-form orsupport, where they may more readily be viewed by the salesman, and arenot likely to be hidden by a ladys skirts.

Inasmuch as in all of the appliances shown, the 111easuring-stick andindicator are free to move without interference from the foot orclothing of the customer, while the salesman is most effectivelypositioned for assisting the customer and using the saidmeasuring-appliance, it will be appreciated that my improvements attain.many distinct advantages over any device hitherto employed for thispurpose.

Accordingly, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, thefollowing 1. In an appliance of the class described, the combinationwith a support for the measured foot, of an abutment thereon, a scale ofsizes and its co-acting indicator, in association with a movablemeasuringstick, a folding stop adapted to be brought into engagementwith the measured foot the support being suitably recessed normally toreceive said folding-stop and a connection between said measuring-stickand the scale and indicator, whereby the correct size of the measuredfoot is at once designated upon the scale, substan tially as setforth.

2. In an appliance of the class described, the combination with a stoolor support for the user, of an angularly-positioned support for themeasured foot attached thereto, a movable measuring-stick or part, astop thereon, and a rigid abutment, between which the measured foot isadapted to be supported, a scale of sizes conveniently positioned to beread by the user, and a traveling indicator-part associated therewith,and with the measuringstick adapted directly to designate the size orlength of the measured foot, substantially as set forth.

3. In a foot-measuring appliance, the combination with a stool orsupport for the user, of an angularly positioned foot-rest and measuringappliance mounted at one side thereof, comprising a foot-rest, anabutment thereon for engaging the heel of the measured foot, a movablemeasuring-part provided with a stop for forwardly engaging the measuredfoot but adapted to be folded out of the way, a scale of sizes and apointer connected with said measuring-part and adapted to travel oversaid scale, whereby the correct size is accurately indicated,substantially as set forth.

4. In a f00t-measuring appliance, the combination with anangularly-mounted footform or support, of a measuring-stick movablymounted beneath the supporting-face thereof, a stop or upright carriedthereon and normally folding into a recess provided in said foot-form, ascale and an indicator or pointer connected with said measuring-part andadapted to be moved thereby over said scale at the side of saidfoot-form toindicate the size of the measured foot, substantially as setforth.

5. In a shoe-fitting appliance of the class described, the combinationwith a stool or support for the user, of an angularly-positionedfoot-form mounted thereon, a measuring-stick movably. mounted beneaththe supporting-face of said foot-form and provided with a stop orupright for engaging the measured foot; said stop normally folding outof the Way, a conveniently positioned scale and an indicator connectedwith said measuring-part and caused to travel over said scale toindicate the correct size of a measured foot, substantially as setforth.

6. In a shoe-fitting appliance, the combination with a supporting-stoolfor the user; the same being equipped with an extension, a foot-form orsupport carried between said stool and extension, an abutment forengaging the heel of themeasured foot, a movable measuring-stickdisposed beneath the supporting-face of the foot-form, a stop orupright, hinged thereon; the foot-form being provided with a recessnormally accommodating said stop, a scale of sizes convenientlypositioned to be viewed by the user from the stool and a travelingpointer or indicator carried by the measuring-stick and caused to travelover said scale for indicating the size of a measured foot,substantially as set forth.

Signed at Cleveland, this 14th day of March, A. D. 1906, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN W. SOHELL.

Vitnesses EDwARD H. VVALsH, R0131". M. MORGAN.

